Hispanic School Dropouts: The Extent and Relevance of Pre-High School Attrition and Delayed Education.

Hirano-Nakanishi, Marsha

Using the 1976 Survey of Income and Education, and focusing on Hispanics aged 14 to 25, analyses were conducted to assess when in the schooling process Hispanics drop out. Findings suggest that over 40 percent of all Hispanic dropouts leave school before reaching the 10th grade, with most of the pre-high-school attrition occurring at the junior high school level. Dropping out among Hispanics peaks in the 11th grade (30 percent of all Hispanic dropouts), followed by a sharp decline in the 12th grade (7 percent). Analysis of descriptive statistics regarding pre-high-school attrition and delay suggests that regional differences in policies regarding school leaving and delay may exist, that sophomore-aged Puerto Ricans are most likely to experience delay among Hispanic subgroups, and that socioeconomic, language-related and immigration factors are related to delay and pre-high-school attrition. In view of these findings, it is important that researchers focus on the junior high school period in which significant numbers of Hispanic youth drop out of school and/or experience substantial delays in their educational progress. Furthermore, pre-high-school attrition statistics should be regarded as social indicators and analyzed on a regular basis for Hispanics and other relevant subgroups, in order to review trends regarding the attrition issue. (KH)